Text Size:   A+ A- A   •   Text Only
wheat banner image
Sustainability in Oregon agriculture
Ag and sustainability in the news
Introduction
Common elements of sustainability programs
Industry-led sustainability programs
Oregon Department of Agriculture sustainability programs
Sustainability information and resources
Other sustainable certification programs
Ag and sustainability in the news
Nursery owners and staff in front of nursery sign
Several agriculture and food businesses receive Governor's Sustainability Awards
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and Secretary of State Kate Brown presented Sustainability Awards to the following Oregon businesses and organizations at an awards ceremony on April 13, 2011. These awards recognize outstanding leadership and investment in sustainable business practices in Oregon.
  • Northwoods Nursery/One Green World, Molalla, small business category
  • Burgerville, Portland, large business categry
  • Port of Portland, non-government organization/government category
  • Corvallis School District, Corvallis area regional award
  • First Alternative Co-op, Corvallis area regional award
  • The Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, Corvallis area regional award
Oregon Association of Nurseries board adopts industry-wide energy goal
Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) is starting a voluntary energy efficiency program to help the nursery industry improve energy efficiency by 25 percent over the next 10 years. OAN's board recently adopted the 25 percent energy efficiency goal.  Read full story... 
 
Oregon Dungeness crab receives sustainable certification
Oregon's Dungeness crab industry has been certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. Read full story...
 
Environmental markets guide available
The American Farmland Trust has published a Guide to Environmental Markets for Farmers and Ranchers. The guide describes the state of environmental markets today, how they work, and the types of markets that may be the most useful in supporting agricultural operations. 

Introduction
Wahl ranch in Curry County
Oregon’s agricultural producers have shown a commitment to sustainability in many ways.  Producers are enhancing wildlife habitat on their lands, restoring streamside areas, using energy efficiently, and protecting water quality.  Many agricultural businesses have instituted programs to increase job satisfaction, safety, and health among their workers. Farmers and ranchers are also diversifying the products they produce, marketing ecosystem services, employing land use protection tools, and using succession planning to help ensure economic sustainability within their operations.

As consumer demand for sustainably produced products grows, many agricultural producers and organizations are working to better document their sustainable practices.  This is happening through producers’ marketing efforts, industry-led certification and sustainability programs, and a variety of third-party sustainability certifications.

This Web site provides information about agricultural producer and industry-led sustainability efforts, as well as ODA's work in the sustainability arena.  It also includes information for producers who are interested in learning more about sustainability topics and certification programs. 

Common elements of sustainability programs
Streamside planting project
  • Soil and water conservation
  • Fish and wildlife habitat
  • Worker health and safety
  • Animal health and welfare
  • Energy intensity

Industry-led sustainability programs
Winery in Yamhill County, Oregon
  • Carbon Reduction Challenge - www.crchallenge.org. The Carbon Reduction Challenge seeks to enlist and inspire businesses to measure and progressively reduce greenhouse gases through a commitment to transparent and verifiable certification in partnership with the Oregon Wine Board, Oregon Environmental Council and Low Input Viticulture and Enology.
  • Oregon certified sustainable wine. In partnership with certification agencies throughout the state, the Oregon Wine Board has created a unifying platform and certification logo to help consumers easily identify and purchase sustainable wines.  The goal of Oregon Certified Sustainable Wine (OCSW) is to communicate these practices in an understandable manner, highlight shared principles among the various certification philosophies and forge relationships with consumers who make environmental awareness or action a priority.
  • Northwest sustainable dairies.  The Dairy Farmers of Oregon and Washington State Dairy Federation have collaborated to establish the Northwest Sustainable Dairies program.  The program describes the regulations that Oregon and Washington dairies are required to follow under state and federal laws, as well as recommended sustainable practices for dairies in the two states.
  • Nursery sustainability initiative. Oregon Association of Nurseries has launched an initiative to establish sustainability goals for Oregon's nursery and greenhouse industry. 
  • Climate friendly nurseries.  Oregon Association of Nurseries, Oregon Environmental Council, and Oregon State University are partnering with consulting firm Ecos Consulting and several of Oregon’s nurseries to inventory nursery greenhouse gas emissions and identify strategies that can reduce emissions.
  • Christmas tree certification programs.  Oregon State University, funded in part through a Specialty Crop Grant from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, is working to establish sustainability certification standards for the Christmas tree industry in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Northwest Food Processors Association (NWFPA) Energy Efficiency Program. NWFPA became the first organization to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the US Department of Energy documenting both parties' commitment to achieve energy efficiency goals.

Oregon Department of Agriculture sustainability programs
A variety of ODA programs support sustainability in agriculture, including environmental and economic sustainability.
  • ODA’s Commodity Inspection Division conducts independent, third-party audits for producers and processors for a variety of certification programs, including sustainable certification programs.
  • ODA’s Agricultural Marketing Division promotes Oregon agriculture’s sustainability efforts to local, regional, and national and international customers.
  • ODA’s Pesticides Division works to ensure pesticides are applied safely and legally, and licenses fertilizer products sold in Oregon.
  • ODA’s Natural Resources Division works with agricultural producers to protect water quality, keep farmland and rangeland in agricultural use, and support Oregon’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
  • ODA’s Plant Division works to identify invasive species, including invasive plants, plant pests, and diseases, and prevent or eradicate invasive species in Oregon.
  • ODA’s energy program promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy to Oregon’s agricultural producers.
  • ODA’s Animal Health Division works with livestock producers to identify and prevent livestock diseases. ODA's Measurement Standards Division implements Oregon's renewable fuel standards for ethanol and biodiesel.

Sustainability information and resources

Other sustainable certification programs

Page updated: August 17, 2011